Recorder Paul Mann QC , passing sentence, told him: "You made your victim fear that he may lose his sight. That is a terrible thing to do to any human being.

"This wasn't an acid attack. It wasn't acid, bleach or a corrosive substance.

“Nevertheless it has become fashionable for young people to use harmful substances as weapons and I am satisfied that the people of Boston should know that this is not a type of offence, bleach or no bleach, that is going to be acceptable to the courts."

Alison Summers, in mitigation, said: "To say this was an acid attack would be factually wrong. We simply don't know what had been in the bottle.

"The scientific evidence excludes the most common type of bleach and the tests carried out exclude acids."

She said that Clarke suffers from mental health problems but since his arrest has been taking steps to address his issues.